OTC derivatives and the ISDA Master Agreement: (how) does it work under Dutch law? (part 1)

OTC derivatives and the ISDA Master Agreement: (how) does it work unde

OTC derivatives and the ISDA Master Agreement: (how) does it work under Dutch law? (part 1)

Most over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives are entered into under an ISDA Master Agreement. One of the major aims of the Master Agreement is to control the credit risk that the counterparties are mutually exposed to. The early termination and close-out netting provisions form the core of the Master Agreement.

A Dutch court may apply elements of Dutch law when interpreting the Master Agreement even when a valid choice for English law or the laws of the State of New York has been made. In general, those elements of Dutch law do not affect the enforceability of the early termination and close-out netting provisions of the Master Agreement. However, there are some important points that may be of interest to market participants entering into transactions with a Dutch counterparty.

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